Blog

MEN: Wilson on End of Season

Pepperdine
had its most successful season since 2005 and finished with 15 wins. The Waves
finished fifth in the West Coast Conference. Sophomore
forward Stacy Davis was the first All-WCC first team selection for Pepperdine
since 2005, Brendan Lane was named Defensive Player of the Year and also
received a spot on the All-WCC honorable mention team, and freshman Jeremy
Major was named to the WCC All-Freshman team.

The Waves fell short to Saint Mary's in the quarterfinals in the
WCC Championships, but were able to celebrate finishing in the top half of the
conference.

"We played well," said Pepperdine Coach Marty Wilson about the
SMC game. "We scrambled a couple times in the game, allowing the Gaels to hit three's,
and they took full advantage of every opportunity and were extremely confident.
Unfortunately, it ended up being a little too late for our team to make the
comeback that we needed, and it was hard to end the season with a loss, while
also having to say goodbye to such great seniors."

The team's camaraderie this season played an essential role in
the Waves' success.

Said Wilson: "What really made the team different this season
was the chemistry. A lot of times, there are teams where players disagree and
bicker, but as a whole, we never had that issue. Our team genuinely liked each
other both on and off of the court, and that played a large role on how they
were able to work together in games and be successful. The team leadership this
season was also a tremendous advantage."

Lane, Malte Kramer and Nikolas Skouen all have played their
final games as Waves.

"It was really hard to lose the last game, especially knowing
that it would be the last game for our seniors," Wilson said. "It was difficult
seeing the emotions of the seniors, and how the younger players reacted to
their feelings, because it truly showed how much the younger players looked up
to them. There was a time where I, myself had to turn away and hold back tears.
As coaches, we all go through times like this where we have to say goodbye to
players who are both quality people and players. It's a tough goodbye, but we
were lucky to have such great role models for the younger players."

Though the season has come to an end, the Waves will soon begin
preparation for next season.

"We will have a staff meeting, where we will collectively review
players and film," said Wilson. "We've got a better understanding now of what
our younger players are capable of and where we can incorporate them. We'll
take a look at the team's strengths and weaknesses and actively continue the high
school recruiting process for future classes."